Cherry Cheese Bars

By kannenk

Ingredients

• Crust: 1 c. chopped walnuts, divided
• 1 1/4 c. flour
• 1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 c. butter Crisco
• 1/2 c. flake coconut (optional)

Preparation

Step 1

Filling: 1 pkg. (8oz.) cream cheese, softened
1/3 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 can (21oz) cherry pie filing
Preheat oven to 350. Grease bottom of 9x13 pan. Chop 1/2 c. walnuts coarsely for topping. Set aside. Chop remaining 1/2 c. finely. For crust: combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter Crisco until fine crumbs form. Add 1/2 c. finely chopped nuts and coconut. Mix well. Remove 1/2 c. Set aside. Press remaining crumbs in bottom of greased pan. Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes, until edges are lightly browned.
For filling: beat cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla until smooth. Spread over hot baked crust. Return to oven, bake 10 minutes longer. Spread cherry pie filling over cheese layer. Combine reserved coarsely chopped nuts and reserved crumbs. Sprinkle evenly over cherries. Return to oven, bake 15 minutes longer. Cool.